Make · Occasion
Christmas projects
122 things to make for Christmas, sorted by who is making them.
10 projects
Toddlers
Painted pine cone trees
Pine cones dabbed green that stand up like a tiny forest on the windowsill.
Sponge stamped wrapping paper
Plain brown paper stamped with stars and trees, so your toddler's art wraps the gifts.
Paper plate Christmas wreath
A green paper wreath your toddler covers in torn paper, finished with a red bow for the front door.
Gingerbread playdough
Warm brown dough that smells like cookies, for rolling and cutting gingerbread people.
Jingle bell sensory bottle
A sealed bottle of rice and bells that jingles every time your toddler shakes, rolls or tosses it.
Sticky wall Christmas tree
A tree made of sticky paper on the wall that your toddler decorates, takes down and decorates again.
Fork print Christmas tree
Green fork prints stacked in a triangle that look like a fluffy tree, plus stickers for ornaments.
Footprint reindeer card
A brown footprint that turns into a reindeer with a red nose, perfect for a holiday card to grandma.
Salt dough handprint ornament
A baked handprint ornament that goes on the tree every year and shows how much that hand has grown.
Ornament scoop bin
Big shatterproof ornaments floating in a water bin, ready to scoop, chase and pour.
10 projects
Preschoolers
Salt dough handprint ornament
A baked salt dough ornament with your child's handprint pressed in, the gift grandparents keep for decades.
Paper chain Christmas countdown
A red and green paper chain with 1 loop per day, so your preschooler can tear one off each morning until Christmas.
Gingerbread play dough
A soft, warm-smelling homemade play dough that's perfect for rolling and cutting gingerbread people.
Handprint Christmas wreath
Cut-out green paper handprints arranged in a circle make a wreath that holds the whole family's hands.
Paper plate snowman
2 paper plates stacked into a chubby snowman with a paper hat, a cozy scarf and button eyes.
Craft stick snowflakes
Glue craft sticks into a star, paint them white and add sparkles for a snowflake that hangs on the tree or window.
Tape resist Christmas tree
Paint over a painter's tape tree, peel the tape away, and a crisp white tree appears in the middle of the color.
Potato stamp gift wrap
Carved potato stamps turn plain brown paper into one-of-a-kind wrapping paper made by your preschooler.
Handprint reindeer
A brown handprint turned upside down becomes a reindeer with finger antlers and a shiny red nose.
Paper cone Christmas tree
A standing green cone tree your preschooler decorates with stickers, a paper star and pom pom ornaments.
15 projects
Kids
Popsicle stick snowflake ornament
Glue 4 craft sticks into a star, then cover it in glitter, buttons or sequins for a snowflake that never melts.
Handprint reindeer card
A Christmas card where your kid's hand turns into a reindeer, with fingers for antlers and a bright red nose.
Handprint paper plate wreath
A green wreath made of traced and cut-out handprints from everyone in the family.
Paper chain advent countdown
A paper chain with 1 link for every day until Christmas, each one hiding a small fun thing to do.
Folded paper snowflakes
Fold, snip and unfold a 6-sided paper snowflake, the same shape real snowflakes have.
Salt dough Christmas ornaments
Cookie-cutter ornaments made from flour, salt and water that your kid paints and hangs on the tree for years.
No-sew fleece tie pillow
Cut fringe around 2 squares of fleece, tie the strips together, and stuff it into a squishy pillow with zero sewing.
3D paper star ornament
Fold and cut 2 paper stars, glue them back to back, and you get a pointy star that pops out from the tree.
Salt dough handprint keepsake
Press your kid's hand into salt dough, bake it, and paint it into a keepsake that shows how small they were.
Felt gingerbread ornaments
Stitch a soft gingerbread person from felt with a plastic needle, stuff it, and give it a tree spot forever.
Cinnamon applesauce ornaments
Brown dough ornaments from 2 pantry ingredients that make the whole house smell like cinnamon for weeks.
Toilet roll nutcrackers
Turn empty toilet paper rolls into little nutcracker soldiers with tall hats and big painted smiles.
Pine cone Christmas trees
Paint a pine cone green, dot it with tiny pom-pom ornaments, and stand it on a cork for a mini tabletop tree.
Puffy paint snowman
Mix shaving cream and glue into a fluffy paint that dries puffy and soft, then paint a snowman you can touch.
Woven paper heart baskets
The old Danish woven heart: 2 paper loops woven together into a little basket you can fill with candy and hang on the tree.
21 projects
Teens and students
Air-dry clay trinket dish
A small painted dish for rings and earrings, shaped over a bowl and sealed with a glossy top.
3D paper snowflakes
Big, layered snowflakes made from 6 rolled paper arms, hanging from your ceiling or window.
Chunky knit blanket
A huge, cozy blanket knit with your hands and chunky chenille yarn, done in 1 afternoon.
Yarn wrapped desk trees
Mini Christmas trees made by wrapping paper cones in yarn, a holiday forest for your desk or windowsill.
Stamped clay ornaments
White clay ornaments pressed with lace, leaves or letters, simple and pretty on a tree or a gift.
Watercolor greeting cards
Loose, washy watercolor cards that look artsy even if you've never painted, to give or sell in packs.
Crochet granny square coasters
A set of retro granny square coasters, the perfect way to learn crochet and end up with something useful.
Rolled beeswax candles
Honey-scented candles rolled from beeswax sheets, no melting and no stove needed.
Dried orange garland
Glowing slices of dried orange strung on twine, a cozy holiday garland that smells like the season.
Paper star lantern
A folded 3D paper star that glows when you slip a light inside, a holiday centerpiece for your room.
Wood headphone stand
A clean, minimal stand made from a board and a dowel that keeps your headphones off the desk and looking good.
Fairy light jar lantern
A frosted glass jar packed with tiny lights, a soft night light for your shelf or nightstand.
Sugar lip scrub
A sweet, smoothing lip scrub in tiny jars, 3 kitchen ingredients and done in 10 minutes.
Hand-lettered paint pen mug
A plain white mug with your own lettering or doodles, baked so the design lasts.
Carved rubber stamps
Your own designs carved into soft rubber blocks, to stamp cards, totes and wrapping paper.
Photo tile coasters
A set of 4 coasters made from cheap ceramic tiles and your favorite photos, sealed so drinks wipe right off.
Soy candle tins
Scented soy wax candles poured into travel tins, a top seller at school fairs and online.
Fizzy bath bombs
Round, fizzing bath bombs pressed in molds, a classic gift and a fast seller at school fairs.
Punch needle coasters
Fluffy, looped coasters made with a punch needle, the fastest way to make something rug-like.
Pallet wood sign
A rustic hand-painted sign built from reclaimed pallet boards, one of the best things to make and sell.
Branch slice coasters
Rustic wood coasters sawed from a branch by hand and sealed, a woodworking first that people actually buy.
37 projects
Grown-ups
Chunky hand-knit blanket
A squishy oversized throw knit with your hands, no needles, in one long movie night.
Rolled beeswax candles
Honey-scented candles rolled from honeycomb beeswax sheets, no melting, no heat and no mess.
Wood-burned slice ornaments
Rustic wood slice ornaments with names, snowflakes or dates burned in, the kind people bring out every year.
Hand-dipped beeswax tapers
A pair of tall honey-gold taper candles built up one dip at a time, the old way, slow and oddly calming.
Soy wax jar candles
Clean-burning soy candles in glass jars, scented the way you like, for about a third of the price of boutique ones.
Hardwood charcuterie board
A walnut or maple serving board with a rounded handle, finished food-safe and ready for cheese night or a gift table.
Paper bag star lanterns
Big, glowing Scandinavian-style paper stars made from white lunch bags, the cheapest dramatic Christmas decor there is.
Woven paper heart baskets
Danish-style woven paper hearts that open into little baskets, a cozy tree ornament or a sweet valentine holder.
Envelope pillow covers
Zipper-free throw pillow covers with an overlapping back, so you can swap your couch look every season for a few dollars.
Saddle-stitched leather card wallet
A slim leather card holder hand-stitched with waxed thread, a gift that looks like it came from a high-end leather shop.
Hot cocoa mix gift jars
Layered jars of rich homemade cocoa mix and mini marshmallows, with a tag that says exactly how to make a mug.
Brown sugar body scrub
A rich, sweet-smelling sugar scrub mixed in 10 minutes and packed in jars for a spa-style gift.
Alcohol ink tile coasters
Swirly, marble-looking coasters made from cheap white tiles and alcohol ink, sealed so they handle sweaty glasses.
Homemade vanilla extract
Real vanilla extract made from split beans and vodka, bottled up as a gift that bakers use all year.
Stamped leather keychain
A rugged leather key fob with stamped initials and a brass rivet, a quick personal gift that ages well.
Peppermint bark
Layers of dark and white chocolate topped with crushed candy canes, a holiday gift that tastes like the expensive tins.
Lathe-turned wood bowl
A smooth hardwood bowl turned on a lathe from a single block, a deeply satisfying advanced project for anyone with lathe access.
Scented cinnamon pinecones
Foraged pinecones baked clean and scented with cinnamon, for bowls and baskets that smell like the holidays.
Linocut greeting cards
Hand-carved block print cards with that crisp, slightly imperfect printed look, enough for a whole holiday list.
Hand-carved wooden spoon
A one-of-a-kind cooking spoon whittled from a basswood blank with 2 knives, slow and satisfying.
Hand-cut dovetail keepsake box
A small hardwood box joined with hand-cut through dovetails, the classic woodworker's rite of passage.
4x4 tealight candle holders
A trio of chunky wood blocks drilled to hold tea lights, a quick rustic centerpiece that sells well at fairs.
Live-edge resin river board
A walnut serving board split by a glassy blue resin river, an advanced build that combines casting, flattening and fine sanding.
Dried orange slice garland
Glowing, stained-glass orange slices strung with cinnamon sticks and bay leaves, the classic old-fashioned Christmas garland.
Farmhouse wood serving tray
A sturdy 18 x 12 in pine tray with metal handles for coffee tables, ottomans and breakfast in bed.
Fresh evergreen wreath
A full, fragrant wreath built from bundles of real fir, cedar and pine, better than store wreaths at a fraction of the price.
Hand-bound long stitch journal
A soft-cover notebook with 5 sewn signatures and an exposed stitched spine, a gift that writers and sketchers love.
Beeswax lip balm
Smooth, nourishing lip balm made from 3 ingredients in equal parts, enough for about 20 tubes.
Painted wine glasses
Stemless glasses painted with dots, initials or florals and baked so the design survives the top rack of the dishwasher.
Soy wax melts
Scented wax melts in snap-apart clamshells, one of the fastest candle-adjacent products to make and sell.
Mug cake gift kit
A mug packed with a bag of chocolate cake mix and a recipe card, so someone can bake a warm cake in 90 seconds.
Scrap wood Christmas tree
A wall-hung Christmas tree made from stepped 1x2 branches on a center trunk, simple to make in batches for gifts or a market stall.
End-grain checkerboard cutting board
A heavy maple and walnut checkerboard cutting board, the kind that's gentle on knives and lasts for decades.
Cold process soap from scratch
Real handmade soap made from oils and lye, the traditional way, cured into gentle bars that last.
Watercolor botanical cards
Loose, leafy watercolor greeting cards you can paint in an evening, even if you haven't held a brush since school.
Wood bead tassel garland
A natural wood bead garland with cotton tassels that drapes over shelves, mirrors and trays for an easygoing boho look.
Two-step wooden step stool
A solid pine step stool with housed dado joints and arched feet, sturdy enough for the top kitchen cupboard.
29 projects
Seniors and grandkids
Family recipe tea towel
A favorite family recipe in your own handwriting, printed onto a cotton tea towel that becomes an heirloom.
Soy wax jar candles
Clean-burning candles poured into glass jars with your own scent and label, good enough to sell at a craft fair.
Mosaic tile trivet
A heat-safe trivet covered in colorful tile pieces and grout, the kind of gift that sits on a kitchen counter for decades.
Christmas card gift boxes
Small lidded boxes folded from last year's Christmas cards, perfect for a pair of earrings or a few chocolates.
Dried orange slice garland
Glowing, stained-glass orange slices dried low and slow and strung with bay leaves for a natural holiday garland.
Big paper snowflakes
Large, lacy snowflakes cut from folded paper, a winter classic that's fun to unfold and never looks the same twice.
Clove orange pomanders
Oranges studded with cloves in swirls and stripes, an old-fashioned holiday decoration that smells wonderful for weeks.
Graham cracker gingerbread houses
Little candy-covered houses built from graham crackers and frosting, with no baking and plenty of decorating.
Sugar cookie decorating party
Plain baked cookies, bowls of icing and sprinkles, and a table full of grandkids decorating with you.
No-sew felt ornaments
Soft felt stars, trees and mittens decorated with buttons and glue, a calm, chatty project for a group table.
Fall potpourri sachets
Little fabric bags filled with cinnamon, cloves and dried orange peel to tuck in drawers or give away.
Hot cocoa gift jars
Layered jars of homemade cocoa mix and mini marshmallows, a warm gift for neighbors, staff and family.
Photo transfer wood block
A favorite family photo transferred onto a block of wood, with the grain showing through for a soft, vintage look.
No-sew tied fleece blanket
A warm, snuggly blanket made by cutting and tying fringe along 2 layers of fleece, with no sewing machine needed.
Melt and pour soap bars
Pretty bars of homemade soap with dried flowers or oats inside, made from a ready-to-melt soap base with no lye to handle.
Cinnamon applesauce ornaments
Dark, sweet-smelling ornaments made from 2 pantry ingredients that make the whole house smell like the holidays.
Salt dough handprint ornaments
A grandchild's handprint pressed into a salt dough ornament next to yours, a keepsake for every tree from now on.
Pine cone mini Christmas trees
Tiny tabletop Christmas trees made from pine cones dabbed with green paint, snow and bead ornaments.
Envelope advent calendar
24 little numbered envelopes on a string, each holding a note, an activity or a treat for the grandkids to open.
Handwritten family recipe book
A small binder of the family's favorite recipes with notes and photos, so the dishes you're known for get passed on.
Lavender bath salts
Jars of Epsom salt mixed with dried lavender for a relaxing soak, a quick gift that smells lovely while you make it.
Vintage teacup candle
A thrift-store teacup filled with soy wax, a sweet gift that puts a single pretty cup back to use.
Mason jar snow globes
Snow globes made from small jars with a tiny tree or figure inside, that swirl with glitter when you turn them over.
Rice sock snowman
A chubby, no-sew snowman made from a white sock filled with rice, with a little scarf and button eyes.
Yarn pom-pom garland
A soft, fluffy garland of yarn pom-poms in wintry colors for a mantel, tree or headboard.
Round loom knit hat
A warm, chunky hat knitted on a plastic round loom with a hook, a good way to knit when needles are hard on the hands.
Family tree wall art
A painted tree with a leaf for every family member, made together and framed for the wall.
Hand massage lotion bars
Solid lotion bars of beeswax and shea butter that melt on warm skin, made for dry hands and lovely to give.
Mini banana bread gift loaves
Little loaves of banana bread wrapped in parchment and twine, a homey gift that uses up those spotty bananas.